Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: BlackRidge on September 23, 2010, 03:18:49 PM


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Title: Crow hunting
Post by: BlackRidge on September 23, 2010, 03:18:49 PM
OK, so Crow is on the list of annoying varmints worthy of a domeshot. I've seen PLENTY, but always within city limits. Does anyone know of any big area's (or types of areas) to hunt them, or good techniques for calling them in?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: 7mag. on September 23, 2010, 03:21:49 PM
Anywhere, and a crow call works well. Be prepared, they are smart, and get real pissed when you shoot one of them. The first time I shot a crow, it was kinda' spooky, they all started flying around the dead one and cawing real loud, it was weird.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: bobcat on September 23, 2010, 03:23:39 PM
Try around dairy farms. I believe crow season begins October 1st.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: BlackRidge on September 23, 2010, 03:34:32 PM
Try around dairy farms. I believe crow season begins October 1st.

Correct, October 1st - January 31st

Thanks for the info guys, there are a few of those in the area, so it sounds like a great place to start

Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: MuleySniper on September 23, 2010, 03:37:58 PM
Anywhere, and a crow call works well. Be prepared, they are smart, and get real pissed when you shoot one of them. The first time I shot a crow, it was kinda' spooky, they all started flying around the dead one and cawing real loud, it was weird.

That's the best part! They start flocking to the funeral and you just keep shooting! Most fun with a .22. When you shoot the first one, hope that it gets hung up in the tree, then the others keep landing around it and well, you know :chuckle:
MS
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: FC on September 23, 2010, 03:39:49 PM
Crows fear my yard, I hate the little *censored*s more than moles.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on September 23, 2010, 03:42:48 PM
I have never hunted them but I call them in all the time while predator calling.  They are really easy to call in.  I have this MP3 on my phone and love calling them in around parking lots in the city.  It is amazing how many crows will show up out of nowhere and swarm you.  

http://www.mscustomcalls.com/mp3/crow-raven/Crow%20Distress.mp3 (http://www.mscustomcalls.com/mp3/crow-raven/Crow%20Distress.mp3)


Well over a hundred crows came in to rabbit in distress call.
 (http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/pp150/Naithankain/?action=view&current=P9140001.flv)

Big flock of crows.  They saw me move even though they were pretty high up.
 (http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/pp150/Naithankain/?action=view&current=MOV04181.flv)

Make sure if you are up in higher elevations that you know the difference betweens crows and ravens.  
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: bobcat on September 23, 2010, 04:05:11 PM
Does crow taste better than duck?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: lewy on September 23, 2010, 04:07:23 PM
I got into it for a while. Made some silhouette decoys, and had good success. They eventually got smart and just circled real high(when i repeatedly called in the same area) so i got creative and tipped over a garbage can and spread some garbage, then put the decoys around it, :chuckle:used there smarts against them. Worked like a charm :chuckle: (this was on private property and yes I cleaned up when i was done :))
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: billythekidrock on September 23, 2010, 04:14:48 PM
Got my decoys ready and the sounds are on the ecaller.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: J Snow73 on September 23, 2010, 04:59:29 PM
Ya I've found the mother load here in Federal Way, but can't shootem. I do property management and the upti ups feel if you put a fake owl around deters them :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :bash: I believe the answer is a silenced .17hmr but well you know
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: J Snow73 on September 23, 2010, 05:07:52 PM
Does crow taste better than duck?
Ya only if you fry em in Febreeze and pine needles :drool:  :dunno:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: BlackRidge on September 24, 2010, 03:38:14 PM
Does crow taste better than duck?
Ya only if you fry em in Febreeze and pine needles :drool:  :dunno:
Hmm.... and how'd that work out  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: J Snow73 on September 24, 2010, 03:42:25 PM
About as good as it sounds :chuckle:  :cue: :EAT: :puke:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: bowman on September 24, 2010, 05:06:09 PM
Dying crow and Struggling crow on the foxpro are the sounds I've had success with. It's a lot of fun with an air rifle, you can get a lot of shooting before they realize whats going on :chuckle: :chuckle:

If you call in your backyard lookout cause the neighbor guy might show up with the 12 ga. to show you how it's done :chuckle: :chuckle:.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on September 25, 2010, 09:11:46 AM
Some cool crow hunting videos.  Set up looks pretty much the same in all of them.

Crow Hunt - Dec 16, 2009 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRHKxyErgZw#ws)

crow hunting (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMSdJfPtfcE#)

Crow Hunting - Black in Back (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqrl8lj-1Go#)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on September 25, 2010, 09:21:51 AM
What load are you guys using for crows.  I have heard they are really tough and low brass is not a great choice.  Is a high brass 6 good or would you go with 4's?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: johnnypop on September 25, 2010, 02:29:13 PM
Another great bait is a bag of microwave popcorn. I use to take a bag and open it and put a few decoys around it. Very fun hunting. Some of the serious crow hunters use the metro extension for the 12ga to quite them down.
Over on crowbusters.com, they have some recipes that are really good.
I've used #6 lead to bbb in steel, all 2 3/4.
Can't wait till Oct 1.
John
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: pjb3 on September 27, 2010, 04:45:21 PM
Any good places in Sno Co? I love crow hunting and have decoys, calls and can  cook them up, tasty buggers.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: ivarhusa on September 27, 2010, 04:55:57 PM
Quote
Make sure if you are up in higher elevations that you know the difference between crows and ravens.

My sister learned from a NW Native American just how to tell the difference.  If it is dead, its a crow , because ravens are sacred and can't die.

I can't vouch for whether that alibi would work with a game warden.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: madcow41 on September 27, 2010, 04:59:14 PM
Does anyone know anything about the crows around spokane??


and anywere were i can make them go into my frying pan
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on September 27, 2010, 05:43:49 PM
Quote
Make sure if you are up in higher elevations that you know the difference between crows and ravens.

My sister learned from a NW Native American just how to tell the difference.  If it is dead, its a crow , because ravens are sacred and can't die.

I can't vouch for whether that alibi would work with a game warden.
:chuckle: Probably wont fly with the warden or judge.

Everything you need to know about the differences.
http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/facts/crow_vs_raven.html (http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/facts/crow_vs_raven.html)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on September 27, 2010, 05:51:06 PM
Does anyone know anything about the crows around spokane??


and anywere were i can make them go into my frying pan
(http://depts.washington.edu/natmap/maps/wa/birds/WA_american_crow_nm.jpg)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on October 01, 2010, 02:27:01 PM
Anyone do any hand calling?

European crow calling instructions (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCx7XGkuLfk#)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: dscubame on October 01, 2010, 02:29:36 PM
Does crow taste better than Bald Eagle?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: BLR 243 on October 01, 2010, 02:54:06 PM
This is a topic that I can opinion on, I'v hunted crows for 30 years. We use to run and gun ware we would stop at a likley spot and start calling, crows would show up and we would smoke em. After a few minutes when the action was over we would move to another spot and start again. Then we got decoys and duck hunted them, I still do @ some dairy farms.I'v even taken food coloring and water in a milk jug and spread it on the frozen ground it looked like blood and they come in on a frozen rope. I'v even taken my pellet gun years ago and shot city crows got 33 in Everett one day. Our best day was 88 crows thats not counting the ones flying off with their landing gear hanging down or flack damage to their wings. Camo is a must at least your face and hands. 1/1/8th number 6's over decoys up to 1/1/4 oz. Only time i'v ever shot five for five several triples was crow hunting. The crow pop. seems down compared to years ago crows suffer from west nile, so if u see a dead crow on the road  dont pick em up.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Baldy223 on October 01, 2010, 03:12:56 PM
Newbie here. Plan my first hunt some time soon. What do you guys do with the dead once? Do you pick them up and bury in a hole?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: BlackRidge on October 01, 2010, 04:51:02 PM
...Use them as bait for more crows  ;)

Garbage, toss em' in a hole, etc... eventually other critters will get them
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on October 01, 2010, 04:59:29 PM
Yote food.   :chuckle:  That way they leave the deer, grouse and rabbits for me.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on October 14, 2010, 11:31:07 PM
1950 vinyl record on how to call crows.  How fricken sweet is this?   :chuckle: :chuckle:

CROW CALLING - Philip S Olt c.1950 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUY5nS7UUgA#)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: bowman on October 15, 2010, 07:47:43 PM
I called one into my backyard this morning and shot him :chuckle:. Then I packed up the Fx5 and headed over to my buddies house where we shot 6 more.  Hope my dad doesn't mind I took his brand new Citori :rolleyes: :rolleyes:, and if he does too bad he took my dog pheasant hunting without me and it'll be my dogs first time :(. They wont be back until Monday.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Forrestrover on October 15, 2010, 08:08:34 PM
Linus, the urban crow killer.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: top pin1 on October 15, 2010, 08:21:04 PM
Grew up in Snohomish Cnty. Back in the late 80's early 90's we used to go out to a pumpkin farm the second week of November. By then the pumpkins had split from a freeze and this place looked like the movie BIRDS> the owner hated them as some had killed some of her chickens. We took crow decoys 1/8" plywood silhouttes (50 +) hand calls and three of us shooting. By noon we ran out of ammo and had to go back to town for more. We were calling in flocks of crows that were like a mile long and 500 plus birds. In the end we shot 13 boxes of shells and had over 100 birds. That was the best day ever, we went about every weekend for 3 weekends after that and would get a few dozen but nothing like that first day. The next year was the same but only about 50+ birds the first day and slightly fewer each day after. Had the game warden come by on several occasions as we were close a river and thought we were slaughtering ducks. We did that for 5 years before I moved out of the area and got more interested in other things with 2 legs.  Man those were fun times and made me a great shot. #5 Lead hand loads is what worked for us 12g. They are hard to bring down. My lab hated to retrieve them also.

   Different story along the same lines. When I was about 10 I shot a crow with my bb gun out of a 100' pine tree. It came swirling down to the ground as I only broke its wing. I take off after it to finish it off and as I got 10' from it it flopped over on its back and played dead. Feet straight up in the air. Well I couldnt finish it off and every time I got farther then 10' it would try to run and as soon I started to chase it down it would play dead again even to the point of letting me pick it up. Well I brought it home and put him in a chicken cage. He'd play dead every time I or any animal would get near the cage. Cat dog etc. Was hilarious to watch. Named him "devil"  Had him for about 4 months. You dont know how many times that bird would call in a flock of 100+ crows into my yard. He'd see a big flock and start screamin his head off. They would come in and make a total racket around my house. It would like just like in the movie "Birds" at my house crows screamin away and flying around everywhere. Was a awesome sight. I never shot them theire but would any chance with a shotgun out in the fields behind my house. One day I came home and he was playin dead for the last time. Funny he died in that position.

   Their funny birds and can make a ton of sounds. Even to this day I use that crow call for a shock call during turkey season and can still call in a bird or two with it. Some fun wingshooting they can provide.

Top
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: ser300wsm on October 15, 2010, 08:24:53 PM
 8) crow hunting is a blast, great time to get out there & shoot something. Used to do it all the time, maybe 2morrow take my son and some buddies go c what we can get. Thanks for bringing it up  :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: camosolo on October 17, 2010, 03:30:19 AM
My Buddy Jim and I use to crow hunt. Been busy the last 4 years during hunting season. Always seem to be in Iraq during season. Anyway, we use to call it black rain after I shot one about 10ft over my head. It's great stuff. I loved the videos, thanks for posting them. I won't be coming back over here so I will be prepping for hunting season from the moment I get back. :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: addicted on October 17, 2010, 04:14:50 AM
I try to set up with plenty of cover, but not too close to any real stand of trees because they just like to land in them and take a look.  A buddy of mine likes to use an owl, but he never gets any with that.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: ivarhusa on October 18, 2010, 02:52:04 PM
I've shot a lot more critters lately with my camera... 

I wanted to get some crow pictures, so I brought out my redneck boombox and started playing a few crow calls in the back yard.  I tried a solo crow's "attention" call, and then a flock of raucus crowing, but the sound that was playing when the crows showed up (real science, here) was crow-cacophony with owl sounds occaisionally. I had six crows over head rather quickly. (Not too big a surprise, as I live along a golf course where there are lots of crows.)

I liked the idea of using a hawk sound, as was demonstrated on the "vinyl", earlier in this thread.

 Maybe I'll find a place to play this song where a shotgun is welcome.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Kain on November 04, 2010, 12:54:52 PM
http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/predator-hunting/articlecontent/9/2010/1301/how-crow-hunting-helps (http://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/predator-hunting/articlecontent/9/2010/1301/how-crow-hunting-helps)
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: addicted on November 04, 2010, 12:59:57 PM
There was an article in Wild & hunde on crow hunting this month
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: WDFW-SUX on November 04, 2010, 01:08:14 PM
I love crow hunting... I shot about 100 of them on a shoot last year...  :P  I used a .410 shotty.. worked great!
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: dscubame on November 04, 2010, 04:01:59 PM
What did the crows do to you?  You eat them?  If not why kill them?  Interesting entertainment.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: addicted on November 04, 2010, 11:02:12 PM
saving em up for crow pie
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: champ41 on November 05, 2010, 01:50:47 PM
I dont know about any of you but I would never eat a crow! To me its like eating garbage I just dont think I could do it!  :puke:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: Axle on November 06, 2010, 03:07:31 PM
Shooting crow is much more fun than eating crow (figuratively speaking).
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: MikeWalking on November 06, 2010, 04:12:06 PM
Quote
The first time I shot a crow, it was kinda' spooky, they all started flying around the dead one and cawing real loud, it was weird.

Had a flock of Hundreds wake me up way too early on a snowshoe trip between Denny Creek and the Pass. Cawing like hell, popped one in the head with a .45, lucky shot.  To say all hell broke lose don't cover it. :o :o
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: J Snow73 on November 08, 2010, 09:12:17 AM
Please tell me it's a joke that some eat crow ??? :puke:
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: addicted on November 10, 2010, 12:13:21 PM
Google it. there are whole books of recipies. havent you met a Texan?
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: johnnypop on November 10, 2010, 02:59:40 PM
Crowbusters.com
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: pjb3 on November 14, 2010, 04:23:42 PM
crow is very good eating, wish I could find some good hunting for them around here.
In Tennessee, they are plenty of them to find and shoot
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: seth30 on November 14, 2010, 04:40:40 PM
Please tell me it's a joke that some eat crow ??? :puke:
  I agree please tell me its a joke
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: callonetta on November 14, 2010, 05:03:44 PM
In the south, nothing compares to crows that have fed on the pecan and walnut orchards all summer and fall.....yummy! I would not touch one here!!!!
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: seth30 on November 14, 2010, 05:04:54 PM
I heard that the ones here, are a different type of crow than the ones found in the south.
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: MikeWalking on November 15, 2010, 10:34:20 AM
Dad used to talk about hunting/eating Crows, not sure if he was kidding about the eating but, he did grow up in the late 1920's-1930's out in the sticks dirt poor... :dunno: :dunno:

He did smile big at me blowing'em up with his dad's 30-30..
Title: Re: Crow hunting
Post by: addicted on December 13, 2010, 06:11:53 AM
Dad used to talk about hunting/eating Crows, not sure if he was kidding about the eating but, he did grow up in the late 1920's-1930's out in the sticks dirt poor... :dunno: :dunno:

He did smile big at me blowing'em up with his dad's 30-30..

holy cow mike. your about to hit 4k posts.
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